A Toronto Favourite: Paperchase

paperchase toronto

What: Paperchase, a UK-based paper store chain, opens first Toronto location

Where: The Bay, 176 Yonge Street (at Queen), just steps from the subway

Hours: M-F 10 – 9:30, Sat 9:30 – 9:30, Sun 10 – 7

The UK’s hottest stationery chain has landed in Canada! It came as a total surprise to me. I didn’t know they were extending out of the UK. So far, I believe there are only two in Canada/North America – one in The Bay at Yonge and Queen Streets in Toronto, and one at Square One in Mississauga. They’ll soon also be opening locations in Yorkdale and Sherway Gardens malls in Toronto, as well as locations in Calgary and Vancouver. They even brought employees over from England to get it started. Exciting! I was thrilled to hear this because a) I love a good paper store obviously, b) Canada doesn’t really have anything like this to call their own so why not and c) I ordered from them once and got docked with high customs taxes. Huzzah!

The location at The Bay has only been open for about two weeks, and even in the half-an-hour or so I spent there, they had a lot of customer interest. I imagine they’d have way more traffic if they actually were in the Eaton Centre mall across the street, though, as this location is a bit hidden, so you’ll need to go hunting for it. Good start anyhow!

Paperchase is for kids and the young-at-heart. You’ll find lots of lunch boxes and cute school supplies, as well as loads of notebooks, agendas, cards, gift-wrapping, random desk objects and accessories. You’ll think it’s more kid-like at first glance, but then you’ll spy a raunchy card or a flask, but they’re still cute. Sneaky!

So here’s a walk-through of what you’ll find at Paperchase in The Bay.

paperchase toronto

Cutesy kidstuff – lunch boxes/bags, notebooks, thermoses…

paperchase toronto

Since it’s summer still, there’s the travel/exploration theme…

paperchase toronto

STICKERS. They also have these sticker booklets that are like ‘reward booklets,’ so in theory, for teachers, but also hells yes I’m getting a sticker booklet of “I’m a Unicorn.”

paperchase toronto

Fruit stationery/stuff has been very hot this summer!

paperchase toronto

All the food piggy banks O_O

paperchase toronto

School season! I found an agenda here that fit the description of what I’ve been looking for so I was very happy.

paperchase toronto

Lots of to-do list pads and notebooks…

paperchase toronto

More notebooks… such pretty designs! Most of Paperchase’s products are by their in-house designers at their studio in London, so you won’t find these anywhere else.

paperchase toronto

Lots of lil notebooks…

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*squee break*

paperchase toronto

I very much would love to see children walking around wearing ice cream cone sunglasses (see here to buy the best ones).

paperchase toronto

My friend exclaimed, ‘they even make their tape cases pretty!’ Also note: British brands!

paperchase toronto

Ok, I love cute pushpins and mini highlighters and such, but let me just draw your attention to the chicken stapler.

paperchase toronto

Note cards, markers, colour pencils, crayons, pencil cases and tins, all for fairly reasonable prices!

paperchase toronto

The wall of organization and photo-love + gift wrapping. Their big sheets of wrapping paper you see on the ladder are only $2.50!

paperchase toronto

Adorable gift bags, umbrellas, phone cases, passport cases, backpacks… Look at all those patterns!

paperchase toronto

There are also multiple rows of cards for all occasions.

paperchase toronto

And no doubt about it, you’ll find a bunch of work by Gemma Correll, your favourite adorable British artist.

paperchase toronto

Postcards are only $1.25!

paperchase toronto

Look-alike Muji pens (only .5) and mini tins!

paperchase toronto

<3

paperchase toronto

I was thoroughly pleased with my first visit to Paperchase. I was nervous that I wouldn’t find much I liked because it’s more kid-oriented, but I gotta say I came home with some good loot!

Anyhow, Canada will be very welcoming to Paperchase! More and more people are getting back into buying cute stationery, so having chains around like this and not just stodgy Hallmark stores is a great idea. Paperchase goes through seasons of supplies, so I’ll be back when new lines arrive!

I recommend them for: back to school shopping, cute-ifying your desk space and quick gift shopping.

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